Design Director

This is a Design Director - Performance Marketing (11 month Fixed Term Contract) role with Canva based in Sydney, NSW, AU
== Canva ==

Role Seniority - senior

More about the Design Director - Performance Marketing (11 month Fixed Term Contract) role at Canva

Job Description

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time-consuming, and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.

Where and how you can work

Our flagship campus is in Sydney. We also have a campus in Melbourne and co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. But you have choice in where and how you work. That means if you want to do your thing in the office (if you're near one), at home or a bit of both, it's up to you.

About the role

We're looking for a Design Director experienced in performance-driven advertising to oversee global, multi-channel performance campaigns that convert and engage. The role requires a balance of creative vision and a focus on speed, experimentation, and measurable outcomes, ideal for someone who combines brand-building with growth hacking.

Please note this role is an 11 month Fixed Term contract.

What you'd be doing in this role

• Develop ideas-led, performance-first creative campaigns across a range of formats—from scroll-stopping statics and lo-fi TikToks to polished YouTube campaigns.

• Inspire, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of designers, copywriters, video editors, and junior creatives, fostering a culture of speed, experimentation, and creative excellence.

• Own the creative process end-to-end, from concepting and storyboarding to reviewing assets in-flight, ensuring they meet the highest standards for quality, performance, and brand alignment.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Growth Marketing, Media Buying, Brand, and Product teams to launch integrated campaigns that drive measurable business impact.

• Use data, insights, and rapid experimentation to inform creative direction, iterate quickly, and scale winning ideas.

• Champion creative best practices for performance marketing, contributing to Canva's evolving playbook on ad effectiveness and rapid creative testing.

• Pitch and present concepts to senior stakeholders with clarity, confidence, and a clear performance narrative.

• Contribute to Canva's creative craft culture, partnering with the Executive Creative Director and Creative Directors to deliver mentoring initiatives, tooling improvements, and creative innovation.

You're probably a match if

• 8+ years of agency or in-house experience as an Art-Based Creative Lead, Senior Art Director, or similar role, with a portfolio of campaigns that delivered performance at scale.

• A strong creative portfolio showcasing exceptional conceptual thinking, art direction, and a sharp understanding of performance marketing creative.

• Deep understanding of platform-specific creative best practices, including Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Display.

• Proven ability as a hands-on creator of reels, TikToks and other content.

• Strong grasp of AI-assisted creative tools, trends, and experimentation.

• A leader who can mentor, energize, and grow creative talent, both formally and informally.

• Experience creating for sprint-based or agile workflows

• Excellent communicator and collaborator, capable of navigating stakeholder feedback and aligning teams.

• A creative problem-solver who can move from ambiguity to clarity with speed, optimism, and strategic focus.

About the team

Canva's in-house creative team is on a mission to make Canva the most loved brand in the world. We work from concept to creation on world-class creative across brand communications, marketing campaigns, editorial content and production.

As part of this team, you'll help create a brand that communicates our purpose, defines perception and awareness globally, and puts a spotlight on our diverse community– ensuring they receive a human, inspiring and empowering experience. 

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills, and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva, so even if you don't feel like your skills quite match what's listed above – we still want to hear from you

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Before we jump into the responsibilities of the role. No matter what you come in knowing, you'll be learning new things all the time and the Canva team will be there to support your growth.

Please consider applying even if you don't meet 100% of what's outlined

Key Responsibilities

• Developing creative campaigns
• Inspiring and mentoring teams
• Owning the creative process

Key Strengths

• Creative vision
• Performance marketing
• Team leadership
• AI-assisted creative tools
• Agile workflows
• Cross-functional collaboration

Why Canva is partnering with Hatch on this role. Hatch exists to level the playing field for people as they discover a career that's right for them. So when you apply you have the chance to show more than just your resume.

A Final Note: This is a role with Canva not with Hatch.

---